A city in Norway where it is illegal to die
In the remote Arctic town of Longyearbyen, a unique local law effectively prohibits dying because the permafrost prevents bodies from decomposing, creating a significant public health concern.
Longyearbyen enacted this unusual policy in 1950 after officials discovered that bodies in the local cemetery were not decaying. The freezing temperatures preserve remains indefinitely, which could allow ancient viruses or bacteria to survive and potentially resurface.
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